§ Mr. Edward DaveyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what activities his Department's Green Minister has undertaken relating to his environmental responsibilities since being appointed. [52437]
§ Dawn PrimaroloAs the Treasury's Green Minister, I am committed to 'greening' the Department's operations, to integrating environmental considerations into other policy areas, and to improving the economic analysis underpinning the Government's environmental initiatives.
297WInformation campaigns have been run on the recycling schemes in place and energy awareness. The Treasury also has the "Bag It and Bin It" campaign, and the "Going for Green" campaign.
The Statement of Intent on Environmental Taxation, released with the July 1997 Budget, committed the Government to exploring the scope for using taxes to help reduce environmental damage. The last two Budgets contained a considerable package of environmental tax measures and commitments to further action. I was involved in its preparation, and in drawing up the assessment of the environmental impact that appeared within the Financial Statement and Budget Report.
On a number of occasions I have met environmental non-Governmental organisations (NGOs) and other interested bodies to discuss, among other matters, their proposals for environmental taxes. I have also given evidence on the Treasury's environmental performance, and on the Government's use of environmental taxes, to both the Environmental Audit Committee and the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee.